'The Nature of Things - Up Close and Toxic'
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'The Nature of Things - Up Close and Toxic'
Date:
Sun, 20 Oct 2002 09:14:56 -0400
From:
Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide
Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
If you missed 'The Nature of Things - Up Close and Toxic' Oct 17th you can still catch it on CBC from 3pm to 4pm (check local listings).
You can also download a video clip online and explore the Toxic House interactive version on the website.
The Nature of Things - Up Close and Toxic http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/toxic.html
PHONE
Audience Relations, (416) 205-3700
For show transcripts, 1-800-363-1281
EMAIL
tnot@toronto.cbc.ca
MAILING ADDRESS
The Nature of Things
CBC
P.O. Box 500
Station "A"
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5W 1E6
Welcome to The Nature of Things Toxic House FEATURE. This is a site about the hazards of indoor pollution, largely created by the synthetic and organic chemicals that are a part of our daily lives. It might sound like a place you want to stay away from, but really it's a place intended to help you make informed decisions about the places and spaces in which you live.
View a video clip from Up Close and Toxic
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/toxic_feature.html
The Nature Of Things presents:
THE TOXIC HOUSE
Welcome to The Nature of Things Toxic House. This is a site about the hazards of indoor pollution, largely created by the synthetic and organic chemicals that are a part of our daily lives. It might sound like a place you want to stay away from, but really it's a place intended to help you make informed decisions about the places and spaces in which you live. We can't live without chemicals, and in many ways they help to improve our lives. However, as environmental engineer Dr. Richard Corsi points out, some chemicals are better than others, and we can make educated choices about their risks versus their benefits.
As you'll see, there are potentially harmful substances at every turn, but it's important to stress that most of us are only ever exposed to very low levels of toxic compounds in our own homes. Therefore contact with the odd chemical trace might not be so bad, but as scientists are discovering, it's exposure to traces of many different chemicals over a lifetime that may be cause for concern. And, it is becoming increasingly evident that children are most at risk, as the chemical burden in their bodies could well affect their growth and development. The long-term impact of chemicals in our everyday lives is yet to be fully understood, but we hope that this site prompts you to evaluate your indoor environment and to seek out more information.
WEED-KILLER PUMP - PESTICIDES
Overview:
Pesticides pose risks for humans, pets, wildlife and entire ecosystems.
Various gardening techniques can reduce the need for pesticides.
Problems:
Chemicals used on lawns and gardens easily enter groundwater, streams and
rivers. Pesticide particles attach to dust and soil, which can drift or get
tracked indoors on shoes. Those same particles become easily airborne and can
be deposited great distances from where they were originally used. Lawn and
garden chemicals can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat and some
have been linked with behavioural problems in children, damage to the nervous
system and kidneys, developmental and reproductive defects, and also an
increased risk of certain cancers. In addition to the active ingredient,
pesticides are also made up of so-called "inert" ingredients, and there is
growing evidence that many inerts are toxicologically and environmentally
hazardous.
Solutions:
There are many organic alternatives to conventional pesticides on the market
and there are organic gardening methods for home gardeners. Try to grow plant
species and varieties which are well-adapted to your climate, soil
conditions, and available light levels. Plant a variety of plant life so that
no single pest can destroy your garden. To fight slugs, create a protective
border around your plants with sand, lime, or ashes. Fennel, calendula,
garlic, basil, green onions and marigolds can be interspersed around your
garden as they ward off several types of pests. For indoor plant health, wash
plants regularly with a mild soap solution.
PESTS - PESTICIDES
Overview:
Many households store at least one chemical pesticide in the house. Most
basic pest problems can be dealt with through prevention.
Problems:
Pesticides are poisons that can be inhaled, that can linger on surfaces, or
make their way into mouths. Organophosphates, which are a key ingredient in
insecticides, can affect the nervous system; cause headaches, dizziness,
twitching, and nausea. These chemicals can also be found in most pet products
like flea collars and powder. Rodenticides pose a particular risk for
accidental poisoning of humans and pets because of their proximity to our
everyday environments.
Solutions:
Deny pests their basic needs for air, moisture, food, and shelter by getting
rid of their original supply. Fix water sources like leaky plumbing. Remove
or block off indoor pest hiding places. Caulk cracks and crevices to control
pest access. Avoid storing newspapers, paper bags, and boxes for long periods
of time. Block pest entry ways by installing screens on floor drains,
windows, and doors to discourage crawling and flying pests from entering your
home. Remove food by using well-sealed food and waste containers. Use herbal
flea collars for your pets, or use simple measures like regularly washing and
brushing them.
FOOD - PESTICIDES
Overview:
Trace residues of pesticides are routinely found on fruits and vegetables.
Buying organic produce is the best way to reduce pesticide intake.
Problems:
Pesticides are assessed for safety by Health Canada's Pest Management
Regulatory Agency, and pesticide levels on foods are monitored by the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Pesticide residue on food could pose a risk
to your health. Most pesticide standards are based on the assumption of
exposure to one pesticide at a time. There is little information available on
exposure to multiple pesticides or on the cumulative effects of low levels of
pesticides over a lifetime. Children are most at risk of ingesting
concentrated pesticide residues because they tend to eat a much less varied
diet than adults. They are particularly vulnerable because childhood is a
period of critical organ development and rapid growth.
Solutions:
Organic produce is the safest bet, but often expensive, or not always readily
available. There are other ways to cut back on pesticides. If you eat
conventionally grown fruits and vegetables, you could reduce your consumption
of the following foods, which an American study has shown to consistently
have the largest number of trace levels of pesticides: strawberries, bell
peppers, spinach, cherries, peaches (U.S.), cantaloupe (Mexican), celery,
apples, apricots, green beans, grapes, and cucumbers. You should also wash
fruit thoroughly, especially apples, peaches and pears. Although some
pesticides concentrate closer to the skin, they are still largely systemic,
that is, they are throughout the fruit. Therefore peeling produce is
considerably less valuable than the fibre and nutritional value that the skin
of most fruit or vegetables provides. Parents should diversify children's
diets, spreading foods out over time, giving children's immune systems a
periodic break.
Additional Resources
>> View the text-based content (printable)
>> View a list of relevant links
Full text republished Articles:
Scientific American (Adobe
PDF format)
Johns Hopkins Magazine
Outside Links:
Annotated Links to Articles
with Annotation:
E Magazine, September/October 2001
"Children at Risk: Widespread Chemical Exposure Threatens Our Most Vulnerable
Population"
Identifies the dominant risks to children's health and wellbeing, as well as
identifying some solutions and alternatives.
http://www.emagazine.com/september-october_2001/0901feat1.html
Science News Online, Sept.
2000
"New Concerns about Phthalates: Ingredients of common plastics, may harm boys
as they develop"
Discusses evidence linking phthalates to male reproductive health.
http://www.sciencenews.org/20000902/bob1.asp
Environmental News Network,
Dec. 26, 2001
"That new car smell: Seductive but toxic"
The chemical dangers of a new car.
http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/12/12262001/toxic_45938.asp
Mother Jones,
January/February, 1998
"The Clean Cleaner Cover-up"
Why homemade solutions are getting the thumbs down.
http://bsd.mojones.com/mother_jones/JF98/homeplanet.html
Salon, September 2002
"New Weapon in the war on Toxic Mould"
What cause Sick Building Syndrome and what to do about it.
http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/2002/09/12/mold/
Resource sites:
Food:
FoodWatch - Food safety in
Canada
http://www.edcanada.org/foodwatch/
Environmental Working Group
Super Market - Evaluate your pesticide to grocery ratio
http://www.foodnews.org/supermarket.html
Indoor Air Quality:
Canada House and Mortgage
Corporation - How to create a non-toxic household
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/imquaf/hehosu/hoenhy/hoenhy_004.cfm
Health Canada - Indoor air
quality:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ehp/ehd/bch/air_quality/indoor_air.htm
EPA Indoor Air Quality -
Highlights problems, health effects and solutions to indoor pollution
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/index.html
Pesticides:
Canada House and Mortgage
Corporation - How to deal with pests:
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/burema/gesein/faroach/faroach_002.cfm
Sierra Club of Canada -
Extensive pesticides information:
http://www.sierraclub.ca/national/pest/index.html
Less Toxic cleaning solutions:
Environmental Protection
Agency - Do it yourself household solutions:
http://www.epa.gov/seahome/housewaste/src/recipes.htm
Environmental Media Service
- More homemade cleaning solutions:
http://www.ems.org/household_cleaners/alternatives.html
General Info:
Come Clean: A breakdown of
the chemicals in our bodies
http://www.comeclean.org/body_burden/whatisbb.htm
Organizations:
Canadian Association of
Physicians for the Environment
http://www.cape.ca/
Pollution Probe
http://www.pollutionprobe.org
If you would like to be included in our mailing list for continuing information on pesticides, please email us at list@safe2use.com.